Associations Between Social Media Use and Loneliness, Body Image and Disordered Eating: A Qualitative Study of British Young Adults

Abstract

This chapter explores the convoluted relation between loneliness, body image issues and disordered eating in young people and its association with excessive social media use. Combining findings from a review of the main existing theoretical frameworks with a qualitative analysis of data collected between 2017 and 2019 from 241 participants the chapter argues for an expansion of Rodgers’ (Adolescent Research Review 1 (2): 131, 2016) integrated theoretical model to include loneliness as a predictor for social media use and an aggravating factor for those at risk of developing an eating disorder. This is the first cross-sectional study to explore the effects of SNS use on loneliness and disordered eating behaviours (emotional eating, bulimic symptoms and body dissatisfaction) in British young adults (18-24 years of age).